BBC环球慢速英语 第344期:星尘号宇宙飞船(2)

voice 1: Today's Spotlight is on the Stardust space vehicle. The Stardust collected materials from space. Scientists were very happy to see the Stardust return to earth. They were excited to study the materials collected inside. Why do scientists believe these materials are so important?
声音1：今天的重点报道节目就聚焦星尘号宇宙飞船。星尘号从太空收集了材料。科学家很高兴看到星尘号返回地球。他们对研究星尘号所收集到的材料感到兴奋不已。为什么科学家认为这些材料如此重要？

voice 2: NASA, the United States' space program, began building the Stardust in 1994. It took five years to build. NASA engineers sent it into space in February, 1999.
声音2：美国航空航天局是负责美国太空计划的机构，该机构从1994年开始建造星尘号。这艘宇宙飞船历时5年建造完成。美国航空航天局在1999年2月将星尘号送上太空。

voice 1: The Stardust vehicle is small. It weighs only about three hundred and fifty kilograms. During its time in space, the Stardust carried a special container. Inside the special container was a very special material. Scientists call this material aerogel.
声音1：星尘号宇宙飞船很小。其重量只有350公斤左右。星尘号在太空旅行期间搭载着一个特殊的收集器。这个特殊收集器内部由一种特殊材料制成。科学家称这种材料为气凝胶。